I was originally contacted through a third-party recruiter for a new opening. She explained that I would be working for Cotter as a consultant for a top engineering firm in Chicago. I had a phone interview with one of Cotter's HR people the next day, and was scheduled for an in-person interview the next week at their downtown Chicago office. After the in-person interview (which turned out to be a one-on-one interview with a VP) I was asked to meet again with him and representatives of the client I would be working with the following week. A few days later I was given a conditional offer.